Virginia Tech Dendrology

sticky currant Grossulariaceae Ribes viscosissimum Pursh symbol: RIVI3
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, 3 to 5 lobed leaf, 1 to 4 inches long, serrated margin, covered with soft sticky hairs on both surfaces.
Flower: Perfect, greenish-white to pink, bell-shaped, each 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, occur in erect to drooping clusters of 6-12 flowers, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Round, blue-black, very sticky berries; not edible (or at least not palatable).
Twig: Stems are round, unarmed but may have sticky hairs present.
Bark: Reddish brown and shreds with age.
Form: An erect to spreading, straggly shrub, 3-6 feet tall; unarmed; covered with soft sticky hairs.
Looks like: red-flowering currant - mapleleaf currant - Wolf's currant - wax currant

Additional Range Information: Ribes viscosissimum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information